If you have never seen this before, we hope after today that it stays that way. I invited Chris over to try this beer with me. To say the least having this beer on a leap year day, we hope to only see it that often, let alone just think of it every 4 years. This beer which is made up of Budweiser, Clamato juice, salt, and lime make up “Chelada”. Chelada is short for ‘my cold beer’. Not only will Bud warn you, but we will also: This beer contains shellfish and clams. Ok if you are still reading let’s get down to it. The beer poured up red, not amber red, but red as in a red stop sign. The soapy looking bubbles faded quickly to nothing, and the other bubbles stuck to the sides of the glass. The smell was not pleasant, that of Budweiser beer and tomato juice. The taste was interesting at best. The clam/shellfish taste was not really there (THANK YOU!), but the tomato taste and beer was there. Neither Chris nor I found this to be a good beer. I passed the glass to our father, he suggested adding pepper. No significant changes. If you are worried about the calories from this beer, they do make a Bud Light & Clamato version. We may try that one the next leap year, if it is still around.

Specs: 24oz Can
4.8% Alcohol

I don’t know if I would go as far as cutting ones throat for this porter, perhaps breaking an arm. The packaging was nice on this. It had a thicker label and good printing, and nice simple artwork on the bottle. I poured it to see that it was similar to the beer from the previous day. This one was black in color, smaller bubbles, tan head and a smell of the malts. I couldn’t wait to have something similar to the previous beer. This one was good, but it did have more of the bitter taste at the end that I say tastes like a bitter burnt coffee. The only real taste for me came at the end of the sip. Was it better than the stout, no, but it was close. You can get away with drinking more of this one with the lower ABV.

Specs: 12oz bottle
4.8% Alcohol

I like the dark bottles that hide the true colors of beers. I knew it was a stout, but the color of the beer, so black, and the head, small darker tan bubbles, it was nice to see poured. After the sweet smell, I began to drink. I quickly became upset. I only had one of these beers. This cream stout is exactly what I expected. The malts take the front of the stage on this beer. Right on their bottle it is stated that they use 10 different malts in this special stout. The finish of the beer has a bitter coffee and hops taste. I feel that correctly roasted malts and hops make a better beer. Go get one of these!

Specs: 12oz bottle
6.1% Alcohol

I haven’t seen this beer in more than four years! I took a trip to Portland Maine and had the best blueberries, but couldn’t try the beer because at the time I was underage. Instead I had to settle for some fresh ones, but not today! There’s a light aroma of blueberries over the glass, but the prominent smell is consistent with many wheat beers. The taste is mild and neither sweet nor tart – the fruit flavor makes its presence known without overpowering the rest of this blended brew. Mild and light, you should keep an eye out for these blue labeled beer from Atlantic Brewing Co. of Bar Harbor, Maine.

Specs: 12oz bottle
5.2% Alcohol

Here’s a great dark beer from Lakefront Brewery. A pour with almost no head, light roasted aroma that was sweet on the nose. The taste followed suit with sweet roasted malts and a full taste that fills the mouth with chocolates. There’s a hoppy finish that cleanses the pallet after allowing the taste to linger and mature to a dry taste. This was very refreshing and I wish my sampler pack had more. If you can find this brew, buy it.

Specs: 12oz bottle
5.5% Alcohol

What does that all mean?! It means a real German black lager beer. It poured up with a nice black color (of course) and a white head. The smell of roasted malts are definitely there. The taste of the roasted malts hit, followed by the bite of hops at the end. I really don’t think I would drink this very often, as it did not present anything new or exciting. This was just over two dollars a single bottle at the store. I don’t think I will pick up more for those reasons.

Specs: 12oz bottle
4.8% Alcohol

A German founded brew in China is now China’s number one branded comsumer export: Tsingtao! It poured up to be a clear light yellow colored beer. It had a slight head to the pour that faded quickly away. The smell had just a bit of hops in it. I went for the taste, and not bad. It was crisp, refreshing, and just a decent beer. It reminded me of a Bud or Miller knock off. This lager is a good one to start the day off with, this is from experience (Thank you Heinz). So grab one of these when you get your dim sum or other Chinese meal. Check the comments to see Steve order another Tsingtao before being beaten.

Specs: 12oz bottle
4.8% Alcohol

Wow! I took it easy when pouring and still look at all the head on this beer! The very thick head is almost like whipped cream, but still lets the fresh and crisp aroma come thru. Cattail Ale is incredibly clear and honey in color. First taste: incredibly light something. Don’t be worried, it quickly changes to mildly sweet hops and finishes quite refreshing. Not what I expected from Lakefront Brewing, but a good breakaway from ‘everyday’ beers.

Specs: 12oz bottle
5.16% Alcohol

I really have a hard time labeling some of these craft beers with their longer names. I think I am doing OK seeing their websites and confirming that it is how they are marketed. This beer poured up very nicely with about a half inch of tan head, and a black color. The smell was that of wet old oats. I was not impressed to say the least. The first draw brought the thought of water to my head. Not because I wanted a glass, but that is what I thought I was drinking. Afterwards I did get some bitters that reminded me to clean out the burnt bottom of the coffee pot. This beer did not have a full taste, some how they mixed the oats and hops together to make a burnt bitter taste. My over all thought, get another oatmeal stout, leave this one on the shelf. I have yet to try one of their many other styles, and have hopes that they are better. A message to the brewery: Get unique looking labels on the other styles of your beer. They all look the same.

Specs: 12oz bottle
5.7% Alcohol

Don’t let the name fool you, it is an Anheuser Busch beer. That of course is not to say it is bad. This brew poured up a nice amber/red color with a quick fading head. The smell of aged liquor and vanilla was there. That moved right into the taste. I am not sure how you age ON bourbon barrel oak and vanilla bean. (check the label) I guess there is a barrel buried at the bottom of the tank (?). Moving along, the taste definitely reflected the taste of vanilla. I am not a huge vanilla fan, and this is a bit of a sweet beer for me. I can do one or two and enjoy, any more, I am not sure what would happen. Find it before they stop for the season. I have seen it limited on tap as well.

Specs: 12oz bottle
6% Alcohol